[The King's Domain]
The news of Astra's birth had reached the King's ears, but it brought him no joy. He sat upon his throne, a silent sentinel staring into the middle distance.
The King had not been born into power. He had begun his existence as a simple Beast before undergoing the grueling process of evolution into a Demon. In Orynx, the path of ascension was clear: **Beast to Demon, Demon to Angel, and Angel to Spiritual Being.**
However, the final stage—becoming a Spiritual Being—was little more than a myth. To achieve it, one had to shed their physical form entirely, a process that required an unimaginable reservoir of spiritual energy just to sustain one's existence, let alone grow stronger. No one in the recorded history of the 20 nations had ever successfully made that final leap.
The King ruled over all 20 nations with an iron fist, but even he could not be everywhere at once. Every million years, the Origins were required to embark on a pilgrimage, visiting each nation to oversee the welfare of their respective species. Since there was no Beast Origin, the Spiritual Origins were tasked with watching over the Beasts as well as their own.
"Go," the King commanded, his voice a low rasp. "Call the Cursed Lord to me."
The guard beside the throne bowed deeply and hurried away. In the accelerated time of Orynx, where a day passed in the blink of an eye, the Cursed Lord arrived only a few "seconds" later.
The Cursed Lord stood before the throne, his head bowed. "You summoned me, my King?"
"You may stand," the King replied.
The Cursed Lord looked up, his sharp eyes taking in the King's tense posture. "You look worried."
"I am," the King admitted, the tension evident in his voice. "Did you not see how easily Kaelvyr dismantled Nova? A single touch, and she was gone. What if she hadn't been able to bring herself back? What if the Celestial Eyes hadn't intervened?"
The Cursed Lord's expression shifted. "I understand your concern, but you know as well as I do that Kaelvyr is a threat. Do you truly trust him?"
"I trust no one," the King spat. "Kaelvyr is dangerous—perhaps even more dangerous than Nova. He has the skill and the power to betray me whenever he chooses."
The Cursed Lord smirked, a dark glint in his eyes. The King's gaze sharpened. "Did I say something funny?"
"You said Kaelvyr could be more dangerous than Nova," the Cursed Lord replied, his tone mocking. "That is a logical impossibility. Nova was born only hours ago and she is already performing feats that defy the laws of reality."
"I know that!" the King snapped. "But we must deal with Kaelvyr first."
"I don't follow."
"Let's kill him," the King said, a cruel smile spreading across his face. He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. "No... killing Kaelvyr isn't enough. He isn't the only one who could grow strong enough to challenge me. We need to go further. Let's destroy the entire existence of the Angels."
The Cursed Lord blinked in surprise. "How is that even possible? There are thousands of Angels scattered across Orynx. And even if we succeeded, Nova could simply restore them with a thought."
The King's smile widened, cold and predatory. "Let me think on it. It is no small feat, I know. But I will find a way."
The Cursed Lord sighed, bowing his head. "As you wish, my King."
"You may leave."
[Lunareth]
In the serene realm of Lunareth, the celebration of Astra's birth was in full swing. In Orynx, sustenance was not found in food, but in energy. For the Angels, a feast was a collective absorption of pure, holy resonance. No Demons were permitted within the borders of Lunareth; their chaotic energy was a contaminant that could poison the delicate balance of Angelic and Spiritual forms.
Kaelvyr sat within a grand structure woven from hardened feathers and reinforced with Angelic energy, a fortress of grace and strength. He looked down at the infant Astra, cradling her with a tenderness that few would believe he possessed.
"You truly cherish her, don't you?" Aravelle asked, watching them from across the room.
"I do," Kaelvyr admitted, his gaze never leaving the child. "I feel a connection to her—something deep and inexplicable. I want to raise her to be stronger than I ever was."
"It's possible," Aravelle said, his voice turning serious. "But your rank won't allow you to watch over her forever. Tomorrow is the day of the Pilgrimage. Every Origin must depart to visit the nations. You'll be gone for years, Kaelvyr."
Kaelvyr sighed, the weight of his duty pressing down on him. "I know. It's the law."
"I'm not saying you shouldn't go," Aravelle continued. "But you won't be here for her during those formative years. You should make the most of every moment you have today."
Kaelvyr offered a small smile, but before he could respond, Aravelle remembered something. "The rumors... about you and the newborn Spiritual Origin. What really happened in that arena?"
"I was ordered to duel her," Kaelvyr explained, his voice dropping. "She wanted the rank of Origin, but the King... he wanted her dead."
"But killing an Origin is suicide for the rest of us!" Aravelle exclaimed. "They are the source of the energy we need to survive. Without them, we all wither and die."
"I know," Kaelvyr said. "That's why I stopped. But she was... incredible. You felt the pressure when the Celestial Eyes appeared, didn't you?"
"I did," Aravelle whispered, a shiver running through him. "I felt time stop. It was as if my soul had been pulled from my body. I thought I was dead."
Kaelvyr nodded, his mind drifting back to the girl with the ancient eyes. *Nova Veyrion... just how deep does your power go?*
Suddenly, a wave of murmurs rose from outside the building. Kaelvyr and Aravelle exchanged a sharp look and hurried to the entrance. They stopped dead in their tracks, their eyes widening in shock.
"Oh, Kaelvyr! So this is where you've been hiding," a familiar, youthful voice called out. "I came to celebrate with you!"
Kaelvyr stared at the figure standing in the center of the square, surrounded by a crowd of awestruck Angels. "Nova?"
"What's wrong?" Nova asked, her energy flickering with a playful light. "Did I do something wrong by coming here?"
"No," Kaelvyr said, finding his voice. "But it's... rare to see a Spiritual Origin in Lunareth."
"Well, I'm here now," Nova said, her smile widening. She looked around at the gathered Angels and raised her voice, her tone commanding yet joyful. "Let the celebration begin! Feast upon my energy!"
Kaelvyr watched as a wave of pure, revitalizing spiritual energy radiated from her, washing over the crowd. He couldn't help but smile. *She's still just a child at heart, isn't she?*
Nova caught his eye and beamed back at him.
To be continued...